The Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on December 18 against the failure of the Central Government to respond to the memorandum submitted recently to the President of India alleging Centre's apathy towards the State.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, PCC chief Kishore Upadhyaya said that a memorandum addressed to the President had been submitted to the Governor on November 29 but the Centre had not shown a proactive stance on the issues raised in the memorandum.
Upadhyaya pointed out that in its memorandum to the President, the Uttarakhand PCC had sought reservation in Central Government services for the people of Uttarakhand and providing a special industrial package for Uttarakhand for the next 10 years-which was also stated in the BJP's election manifesto for the lok Sabha elections.
"During the lok Sabha polls campaign, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had often spoken emotionally of the Ganga River. Unfortunately the PM seems to have forgotten Uttarakhand where the Ganga originates," he said, adding, "The Ganga cannot be conserved without ensuring planning according to local requirements in the catchment areas of the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttarakhand."
"The first stage proposal sent by Chief Minister Harish Rawat for cleaning and conservation of the Ganga should be approved along with the proposal sent by the State to Centre seeking Green Bonus for Uttarakhand without delay by the Centre. The Centre has not provided any help to Uttarakhand in the aftermath of the disaster experienced earlier this year. At least Rs4,000 crore should be released by the Centre for rehabilitation of the disaster affected and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Financial packages should be provided for revival of Central Government enterprises like HMT and IDPl in the State. We have also demanded Rs10,000 crore for conducting the Ganga cleaning programme," the PCC chief said.
As part of its membership campaign the PCC has distributed more than 25,000 membership booklets. Between December 31 and January 5, 2015, the district and city units will present the complete details about membership to the State unit. The block committees will meet every two months while the district committee will meet every month, added Upadhyaya. PCC chief coordinator Jot Singh Bisht, programme in-charge Rajendra Shah and media cell coordinator Surendra Singh Arya were also present at the Press conference.